Grate for elevator-dump pits



R. G. Quim.

GRATEFOR ELEvMoR DUMP Pls.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5, 1920.

1,383,151 Patented June 28, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l. 7 Z

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RICHARD e. ausm.. ori/iiNNnfrrofiis, MINNESOTA," irssisnon THE's'rmnvs-l SCOTT MANUFACTURING CoMrANx, orV MiNNEAroLis, MINNESOTA', `A CORPO.

4dirimir: non ELEvATonr-DUMP -1=1Ts.

fora-ZZ i Be it known that I, RICHARD Gr. QUEHL, a citizenofwthei United States, resident. of

Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, AState of- Minnesota,g have'. invented l'certain new and useful Improvements in Grates for Elevator- Dump Pits, of which` the following is a specication. Y

In handling grain in country elevators, a pit is provided into which the grain is dumped from a wagon or truck. Usually trap doors are provided of heavy plank with wood or iron grate bars arranged across the opening leading to the pit. These grate bars have spaces between them and it often happens that mud or other foreign material will fall through the open grate and become mixed with the grain in the pit beneath.

The object of my invention is to provide a dumping grate which, when not in use, can be closed and the entrance of dirt or foreign material into the pit is thereby prevented.

A further object is to provide a grate of compact, strong and durable construction lwhich will support a heavy load and can not easily get out of order. l

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a dumping platform, showing my grate mounted therein, l

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the platform,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the grate bars open,

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the grate bars closed.

In the drawing, 2 represents the dumping platform and 3 a series of horizontal timbers arranged beneath the platform and extending across the dumpingl opening in the platform and having beveled upper edges 4 to prevent the grain from collecting or lodging thereon. On each side of the dumping opening I provide timbers 5 having angle bars 6 seated thereon. 7 represents a series of plates having studs 8 at each end mounted in bearings in the vertical anges of the barsv l Specification'df Letters Patent. Patented June 1921. `animationniet:August 5, 1920. seriiNo. i

plates are adapted to swing` torgan? inclined, position to provide dumping spaces between Ithem leadingtozjthe pit beneathor may be swung,downV to a substantially hori zontal position wherev they will.' lap by`r one another, as shown in Fig. 4, and effectually close the `opening leading to the pit. The plates are provided with depending brackets 9 at one endand a bar 10 is pivotally connected at 11 to these brackets. A bell crank 12 is pivoted at 13 beneath the grate and its short arm is connected by a link 14 with a lug 15 that is mounted on the bar 10. The bell crank 12 is adaptedto oscillate in a vertical plane and an operating 4bar 16 is pivotally connected therewith and extends up through thek opening in the platform and has a hand grip 17 for operating the bar and bell crank. A plate 18 is mounted in the platform in position to engage teeth 19 in the bar 16 for holding the bar in its raised position, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The plate 18 and teeth 19 act as a ratchet to allow for the ad'ustment of the plates at dierent angles. sually the plates will be adjusted so that the grain can flow between them into the dump at the-same angle it is discharged from the wagon or truck. The lapping arrangement of the platesV when closed forms a substantial support for the wheels of the wagon or truck which may pass over the grate. The arrangement of the operating lever and bell crank makes it impossible for the bars to open prematurely or accidentally. Normally, they will be locked in their closed position and when open, as shown in Fig. 3, will be held in f place by the ratchet device described.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with a dumping plat form having a pit opening therein, of a series of plates having bearings at their ends in said platform on each side of said opening and extendingacross said opening, the

near onev longitudinal edge, the` otherlongitudinal edge of each late overlapping the pivoted edge of the a jacent plate, brackets depending from said plates, 'a bar pivotally connected with said brackets and a mechanism for moving said bar lengthwise to tilt said plates and open or close the gaps between them. i Y p 3. The combination, with a dumping platform having a pit opening therein, of a series of lates having bearings at each end` insaid .p atforrn at one side of their longi-V tudinal axis, said plates being arranged to overlap with the longitudinal edge ofone plateV resting on the adjacent, edge of the adjoining plate andmeans connected with said lates for tilting all of them simultaneous y.

4. The combination, with'a dumping platform having a pit opening,` of a series of plates mounted to tilt in said opening to open or close the passage leading to the pit beneath, a series of depending brackets mounted on said plates, a bar pivotall;7 connected with said brackets, a bell crank, and a link connecting' one arm of said crank with said bar, and an operating barpivotallg connected with the other arm Voffsad cra vIn witness whereof I have hereunto set 30 day of August, 1920.

my hand this 2d V RICHARD QUEI-IL. 

